Pembrey hosts Welsh Road Relay Championships

A Carmarthenshire country park hosted its latest sporting event over the weekend in conjunction with Welsh Athletics and Carmarthenshire County Council.

Report by Nathan Jones, Pics Nathan Jones and Byron Williams

For the third year in succession and 52nd running overall, Welsh Athletics organised the popular Welsh Road Relay Championships for all age groups in West Wales at the fantastic Pembrey Country Park on Sunday (15th September).

Previously these races have been held in Llandow Circuit Track and Ynys Angharad Park in Pontypridd.

Held around the grounds of Ski Pembrey in 2017, the races returned to the new National Closed Road Cycling Circuit and the surrounding parkland on a route that was traffic free and had some excellent views.

Teams arrived in Llanelli looking to come out on top and add their club name to the list of champions which goes back many years.

The park hosted the first leg of the Tour of Britain last September and was host to the finale of the OVO Energy Women’s Tour back in mid-June on the very same turf.

After last year’s constant heavy rain and a gusting wind, there was better news to be had at the country park this time round situated between Burry Port and Kidwelly as temperatures reached the high teens and athletes enjoyed a dry day with light winds. The contrasting weather to 12 months ago helped attract runners and spectators alike to the competition and to see for themselves what’s on offer at Pembrey.

The event provided the chance for both established and up-and-coming endurance runners in Wales to compete in a competitive team format at the beginning of the autumn season. Races included a primary schools challenge, full junior programme, men’s, women’s and masters categories.

Making its first appearance at the Welsh Athletics Road Relays Championships was a Run Wales Relays where social running groups could take part in teams of three and sat outside of the championships programme. Prizes were on offer to the winning teams as well as some excellent spot prizes. This proved popular with athletes aged 18+ and looks set to be back for future years.

Distances varied by age group from 1,540m for the younger participants of the day up to 5,400m towards the latter stages of the programme with an out-and-back extension increasing the distance for older age groups as they headed to the far end of the course passing the Pembrey Saltings.

Under 13s and Seniors were run in a team of four, whilst the Under 15s, Under 17s, Run Wales and Masters categories were contested as a trio of athletes to make up the complete team.

Claiming team titles in the junior age groups earlier in the day were Carmarthen Harriers, Maldwyn Harriers and several by Cardiff Athletics. Joining them on the podium too were Cardiff Archers, Newport Harriers, Swansea Harriers and Neath Harriers.

Local clubs Carmarthen Harriers and Pembrokeshire were on top of the podium following the respective boys’ and girls’ primary schools challenge.

Meanwhile, senior clubs were out in force once again as the likes of Swansea Harriers, Cardiff Athletics and others went head to head on the road. It was the Capital club who came out on top in 2019 in both men and women’s gender with some impressive individual displays. Having confirmed their spots, they will next look forward to the ERRA National Autumn Relays at Sutton Park in Birmingham at the beginning of October.

They were followed across the finish arch by Pontypridd Roadents AC and Aberdare Valley AC in the senior men whilst Swansea Harriers’ A and B teams occupied second and third in the women’s race.

Announced as gold, silver and bronze medallists across the senior and master categories (35+, 45+ & 55+) in the latter stages of race day were Cardiff Athletics, Pontypridd Roadents AC, Aberdare Valley AC, Swansea Harriers, 3M Gorseinon Road Runners, Port Talbot Harriers, Parc Bryn Bach Running Club, Les Croupiers, Llanelli AC, Neath Harriers and Brecon AC.

Presentations were made on the podium to the top three teams as well as the individual winner of each category. They were presented throughout the day by Tom Marley (National Events and Competitions Manager at Welsh Athletics) and Graham Finlayson (Vice President of Welsh Athletics).

In under two months’ time, the John H Collins Gwent Cross Country League Round 2 will head to Pembrey on Saturday 9th November, whilst the Welsh Athletics Cross Country Championships is another big event that has already been confirmed at the West Wales facility over the course of the upcoming winter season in its second visit.